3 minute read - 29th February 2024
Lhyfe to invest in new 20MW hydrogen plant in Wallsend
Global green and renewable hydrogen specialist Lhyfe has unveiled plans for its first UK project, a 20MW green hydrogen plant in Wallsend. The proposed facility in North Tyneside is receiving support from Shepherd Offshore, a leading maritime and energy service provider, following the signing of a land deal.
If plans are approved, Lhyfe’s facility on the brownfield site of the Neptune Bank Power Station in Wallsend, would have an initial capacity of 20 megawatts, capable of producing up to eight tonnes of green hydrogen per day.
As an equivalent, eight tonnes would enable a hydrogen truck to travel approximately 100,000 km without emitting any CO2. With the same quantity, a car could go around the Earth 20 times or travel around 800,000 km. Named Lhyfe Wallsend, the plant will aim to supply a range of organisations seeking to decarbonise their manufacturing and transport operations.
Green and renewable hydrogen specialist Lhyfe has unveiled plans for its first UK plant in Wallsend, North Tyneside / Picture: Shepherd Offshore
Lhyfe is one of the world’s pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen through water electrolysis, with its units being powered by green electricity. Water is fed into the electrolyser, which is split into hydrogen and oxygen meaning the only by-product is oxygen.
The France-based multinational’s first plant in Pays de la Loire, Western France, has been operational since the second half of 2021, with two more sites inaugurated in the Occitanie and Brittany regions in December 2023. Several other sites are currently under construction or extension across Europe.
The announcement comes 18 months after Lhyfe launched its UK subsidiary, headquartered in Newcastle, to meet the increasing demand from companies aiming to reduce their reliance on natural gas and other fossil fuels. In the UK, Lhyfe aims to become a major supplier to energy-intensive industries and transportation, boosting the country’s energy security and creating new economic opportunities. It also has ambitions to develop offshore hydrogen production, tapping into the huge offshore wind potential the UK offers.
If plans are approved, the plant would have an initial capacity of 20 megawatts, producing up to eight tonnes of green hydrogen per day / Picture: Shepherd Offshore
The proposed plant will occupy 4 acres of leased industrial-zoned land along the north bank of the River Tyne. This site was once part of the Neptune Bank Power Station, an early 20th-century pioneer in high-voltage power distribution and a model for the National Grid. Lhyfe Wallsend will use green electricity from the grid, complying with the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard. The company is also exploring options to source power from local renewable assets, such as solar and wind.
Taia Kronborg, chief business officer at Lhyfe, said: “We are excited to announce North Tyneside as the site for our first UK green hydrogen production project. The development of green hydrogen projects is critical if major energy users are to decarbonise their operations. We hope this project will not only help the North East but the whole of the UK reach its net zero targets. At Lhyfe, we are demonstrating that green hydrogen is now a reality and a key driver of the clean energy transition. We have a strong ethos of working with partners and communities to create projects that deliver real local value, and this is a key focus in growing our operations in line with demand.”
Lhyfe’s planning application will be submitted to North Tyneside Council in the spring, with a programme of community engagement underway. The project is subject to obtaining notably building permission and a financial investment decision.
